The Writer review

Production company – Little Ear Productions

Rating –

I’ll be honest here. There are two things I love most about writing this blog. The first is when I get messages from people who have discovered it, actually like my writing and start listening to new shows because of it. That is, after all, the point of the exercise. The second is when independent creators get in touch with me about their new shows, and allow me the privilege of listening to early release episodes. That makes me feel like a professional, and does wonders for my ego. Occasionally, these two things will occur together, like some cosmic alignment, and that is something truly special.

A case in point is today’s review. I received an email from Oliver Smuhar, who was asking if I’d be interested in reviewing his podcast that was launching on May 12th. I guess release day reviews are like busses, because unfortunately I already had a review going out then, but I promised I’d fit it in as close to the 12th as possible. So, dear readers, here we are.

So what’s it about?

The Writer is a work of speculative fiction. It follows the story of a young military recruit, drafted after World War 3 erupts. Set in Australia, it begins with a day in the suburbs just like any other, until the military arrive and take all the men away to complete basic training.

I would tell you more, but I’m not sure how many episodes are out yet, but seeing as the blurb tells you the following details, you can’t shout at me for spoilers by sharing this next bit! “When World War III begins, a young writer is drafted into the Foxtrot Unit, a psychological operations team tasked with documenting the war through stories that blend truth with deception. Some of what listeners will hear is true. Some is not. The challenge is figuring out what’s real and what’s made up.” And that is the gist of it. Now, as I said, I had the first three episodes, and the Foxtrot Unit has only just been mentioned. What I’ve heard so far though is plenty to whet my appetite for the upcoming story.

Is it any good?

I really enjoyed what I’ve heard so far. The story is very well written, and not the usual WWIII tropes that are, well, tropes. Rather than focussing on the action and the horror of war on the frontline, this is about the intelligence side of a future military.

The story is told like a journal, with the main character sharing his experience as his world changes beyond recognition. There are elements here of Full Metal Jacket (which Smuhar readily admits to), and also the innocence lost of living in Australia that reminds me of On The Beach by Neville Shute. Sure, there’s trouble on the other side of the world, but it won’t affect us. Until, you know, it does.

People who look for a full cast audiodrama will be disappointed. This is more of an audiobook, written like a diary. Now, as you’ll know, I’m a big advocate for playing to your strengths, not overreaching, AND NOT USING AI! This style is perfect for a first project, because all you need is a good story. Not only that, but the story has nowhere to hide. A poorly conceived and written story will stand out.

Is it a good audiodrama? Well, it’s ok. Is it a good story? Absolutely. The biggest thing that lets it down is Oliver’s inexperience. This is not his fault. There is a talent to narration that not everyone can do. It isn’t just a matter of reading a story into a microphone. If you can get past this, then there is a very good story there. I’ll be honest, I can’t understand people who can’t enjoy a podcast unless it’s a big budget, A-List production. They probably don’t like indie cinema either.

Final thoughts

This is a really promising debut. The story is well written, and whilst there are some shortcomings, this is only to be expected. After all, there are a lot of big studio productions that are worse than this. I really can’t wait to see what he’s got in the pipeline, because with a bit more experience, Oliver Smuhar will be a name to look out for.

You can get The Writer here:

https://www.greatpods.co/podcasts/the-writer-7826804

For more great reviews, I recommend GreatPods

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